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Morphemic Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

๐Ÿ“–
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morphemic

[mษ”หrหˆfiหmษชk ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

linguistics study

Morphemic relates to morphemes, the smallest units of meaning in a language. Morphemes can be words or parts of words, such as prefixes or suffixes. In linguistic analysis, morphemic structures help understand how words are formed and their meanings. This field is crucial for understanding language development, semantics, and the evolution of language.

Synonyms

linguistic, morpheme-based.

Examples of usage

  • The morphemic structure of the word 'unhappiness' reveals its components.
  • In morphemic analysis, we break down 'dogs' into 'dog' and the plural morpheme '-s'.
  • Linguists use morphemic rules to analyze the formation of new words.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'morphemic'

The term 'morphemic' comes from the word 'morpheme,' which itself was coined in 1940 by the American linguist Leonard Bloomfield. The roots of 'morpheme' are derived from the Greek word 'morphe,' meaning 'shape' or 'form,' combined with the suffix '-eme' that denotes a basic unit of structure. The 20th century saw significant advancements in linguistics, where the concepts of morphologyโ€”a branch that studies the structure of wordsโ€”gained prominence. As linguists began to delve deeper into how words function and are constructed, the term 'morphemic' emerged to describe anything relating to these fundamental units. This development played a pivotal role in the broader understanding of language construction and allowed for more detailed analyses of syntax and semantics.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,604, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.